The Titanic Historical Society’s (THS) collection, one of its greatest strengths, is its collected works of rare Titanic survivor artifacts, one of the finest anywhere. Many were donated by the survivors themselves to THS’s founder and president, Edward S. Kamuda in the 1960s through the 80s, the organization’s early years.
The collection covers a broad scope of Titanic’s rich history, from original blueprints of her tank top donated by her builders, Harland & Wolff, to the 21st century where the ship has become a popular icon from movies and TV. From merchandise to movies, you will see souvenirs and sheet music produced right after the sinking to colorful film posters illustrating the drama from the 1950s to the present.
Titanic’s brave officers, crew and all the passenger classes are represented; stories of courage, adventure and even humor about other times and other places and people like our grandparents.
Titanic’s collision with an iceberg is a chronicle of “What Ifs” and you will see a very important artifact in Titanic history––the Wireless Message received by Titanic stating the location of the fatal iceberg that never made it to the bridge!
Our Collection includes:
- The ice message that never made it to the bridge
- Lookout Fred Fleet’s rendition of the fatal iceberg
- Mrs. Astor’s lifejacket
- A rivet punching from Titanic’s hull
- Titanic’s Launching luncheon and dinner menus
- A square of first-class stateroom carpet
- Titanic officers’ and passengers’ personal effects
- 3rd class passenger Einar Karlsson’s Inspection card
- Letters and postcards written onboard including Selena R Cook, Edwina Troutt, Mrs. Frank Goldsmith and George Thorne (Rosenshine)
- Titanic passenger 1st class Milton Long’s pocket watch
- Bread board from Titanic
- Lifeboat seat support from Titanic
- Bronze White Star burgee from a Titanic lifeboat
- Railing section from Titanic retrieved by Rev. Henry Cunningham on the cable ship Mackay-Bennett
- The crow’s nest bell of the Mackay-Bennett
- Wood/cane chair from Titanic recovered by the Minia
- Titanic menu (3rd class) from passenger Tom Theobald
- Titanic lookout Fred Fleet’s discharge book
- Registered letter; envelope stamped TITANIC
- Titanic blueprint presented by Harland & Wolff.
- Titanic survivor 3rd class Gus Cohen’s account of disaster handwritten on Carpathia stationery
- Autographed photograph of Carpathia’s officers.
- Carpathia medals in bronze and gold from Molly Brown
- Key from dispensary cabinet on Carpathia
- Lifeboat badge from Carpathia
- Carpathia menu 2nd class Tea 4/13/1912
- Carpathia menu 1st class Dinner, 4/14/1912
- Captain Rostron’s watch
- Olympic’s bridge bell
- Olympic 1st class dining saloon Jacobean-style chair
- Olympic: carved oak newel post from the grand staircase and a carved capitol [top of a column]; Britannic artifacts, White Star Line china and silverplate, a diary and letter signed by Joseph Bruce Ismay, original paintings, sheet music, survivor keepsakes and association pieces, other shipping line memorabilia, Titanic in popular culture displaying modern artifacts, including an Englehardt collapsible lifeboat, a 27 foot reproduction loaned by 20th Century-Fox used in the James Cameron film TITANIC
One of the most famous and the wealthiest were the John Jacob Astors. Mrs. Astor’s lifejacket is one of THS’s treasured mementos.
